The Directive, Vol. 3, Spring Issue, 6/16/23

I Y

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the third issue of the Directive! This semester, we focused on a topic we think represents the diverse expression of our student body, art. Art is something that connects our community, it allows us to express ourselves, helps us to find comfort, joy, or motivation, and brings us together. Our magazine covers a variety of topics, from textiles and crafts, to literature and recipes. We hope that you enjoy issue three!

We would like to give a special thank you to the Dispatch leadership team, for supporting and inspiring our second issue.

Lucille Price

Isabella Del-Nido

Carey Wooley

Dimitri Silva

Dylan Zellner

EDITOR IN CHIEF GRACE HARRIS MANAGING EDITORS AMARA LOPEZ ALLI EKROT

SECTION EDITORS EMILY LOEWE LAUREN WRIGHT

PAGE EDITORS

Becca Catlow

Isabella Verette

Madeleine Travis

Savannah Linscomb

Asher Hagan

Noah Ellinger

Noah Bihan

Madison Coleman

Maddy Franco

Lucy Johnson

Charlotte Koellner

Bentlee Toland

Fiona Padalino

Vivi Lopez-Stern

Arden Ray

ADVISOR: Michael Reeves, MJE

DIRECTIVE STAFF

Carey Wooley Isabella del Nido

THEME PACKAGE DEVELOPED BY: Alli Ekrot

Grace Harris

Becca Catlow, Isabella Verette

Emily Loewe

Madeleine Travis

Savannah Linscomb

Asher Hagan

Noah Ellinger, Noah Bihan

Alli Ekrot

Madison Coleman, Maddy Franco

Lucy Johnson

Charlotte Koellner

Bentlee Toland, Fiona Padalino

Vivi Lopez-Stern

Arden Ray

Amara Lopez

Lauren Wright

KNITTING and crochet

how to: steps

Supplies

Art by: Grace Harris

Yarn. Wool-based yarn is best for beginners, and is available at most craft stores

Clothing

Knitting needles. Wider wooden or bamboo needles are recommended for new knitters.

Scissors. You can probably find a pair of scissors somewhere in your house.

1. Learn to make a slip knot by laying down the yarn to loop and tighten it. Tutorials are available on YouTube.

2. Hold yarn and hook to where it’s comfortable in your hands.

3. Start your foundation chain by pulling yarn over the hook and through the loop.

4. Continue until the chain is as long as you want.

Artby:GraceHarris

Featured

Ariana Gonzales

Ariana Gonzales has been crocheting for five years now. She loves to make bags and tapestry crochet, “There’s just so many things I want and can make and I love trying new things and improving.” Gonzales said. Her advice to beginners is to “be patient because it will be pretty hard, but once you get the rhythm of it, it will get easier, you just have to experiment with what is comfortable for you,” Gonzales said.

Ruth Narvaiz

History teacher Ruth Narvaiz has been knitting and crocheting since college. She primarily works on articles of clothing similar to the cardigan and scarf pictured above. Although she began knitting long before, she picked it back up as a pass time for her sons after school activities. “I started knitting again when he was elementary age, and now I can’t stop. Its just an obsession,” Narvaiz said. Story by: Grace Harris

Gonzales poses with a small stuffy she crocheted.

Photo by: Arden Ray

Narvaiz knits by her desk while students finish their assignment

Photo by: Grace Harris

Photos by: Arden Ray

Story by: Grace Harris

Photos by: Grace Harris

SCREEN PRINTING

What is screen printing?

Art by: Isabella Verette

Have you ever wondered how words and designs get on things like tees and tote bags? It’s screen printing! Screen printing is a method used to place designs on a number of different materials, to add logos and designs for personal and business uses. Using mesh stencils and a special tool, you push ink through the stencils and onto the material. When using more than one color you use different stencils to achieve the design and look you want. While screen printing can be pricey, if you looking for a fun new way to change up your closet our start a small business, screen printing is a fun and interesting choice.

Speckled Squeegees: Bowie is stocked with screen printing supplies for art club students who are interested in creating their own screen prints.

Supplies needed:

1. Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink ($11)

2. Screen printing Squeegee ($8)

3. Screen printing Mesh Frame ($21)

4. Ink knife ($5)

5. Material to print on (T-shirts, pants, Tote bags, socks) (around $6)

Where to find supplies

1. Michaels

2. Amazon

3. Hobby Lobby

:

Sketching stencils: Sophomore Evelyn Ledezma sketches out her design for her screen print. After she’s done she will cut it out and transfer it onto her screen.

photo by: Isabella Verette

photo by: Becca Catlow

Art by: Becca Catlow

Art by: Becca Catlow

by:EmilyLoewe

Art

Verette

Art by:BeccaCatlow

Well-loved screens: Used screens sit in the storage room with designs burned into them. Screen printing is a common practice in the fashion industry for printing designs on clothing. “We see screen printing everywhere,” art teacher Mindy Le Jeune said. “So why not learn how to create that process and put it on something that you could actually wear and use?”

Art by: Isabella Verette

by: Isabella Verette

How to for beginners

1. Purchase the supplies needed

2. Decide on the image you want to print. Simple designs that are solid colors are easier for beginners.

3. Print the shape of design or sketch it onto a regular piece of paper or on transparency paper and cut it out carefully with scissors or an Exacto knife.

4. Next, prepare your ink and screen. Tape down your stencil on the underside of the screen to secure it. Make sure you put the material you are printing on underneath the frame. We also suggest doing a test print on a regular piece of paper first.

5. Now, squeeze the ink on top of the frame and use your squeegee to push the ink into the holes of the frame and over your stencil; do this action once. Make sure there is an even coating of ink.

6. Your screen should be fully covered with ink now. Next, hold your squeegee at an angle - it should be where only the edge of the blade is on the screen. This is crucial for getting a clear print. Pull the squeegee over the screen again in the opposite direction to push the ink through.

7. Leave the ink to dry and then pick up your frame to reveal your finished design. If you printed on a t-shirt, put a piece of fabric over your design and iron it to ensure that your design will not wash out.

8. Make sure to wash all your supplies after you are done. Use cold water and a sponge to get the ink clean from your screen.

Art

photo by: Isabella

THrift flips of Bowie

In recent years, thrift flipping has become a fun and price efficient way to get your dream closet. To some it may seem off putting or hard to do but thrift flipping can be anything from completely changing an item of clothing to adding a patch or adjusting the clothing item to your size.

“It's pretty easy and accessible to anybody,” junior Lee Terrel said. “It's just a matter of wanting to customize your clothes and wanting to put effort into it and from there you will find ways to do it.”

But the question is “How do I start?” Terrel started with something they call “crust pants”. These pants were originally a cheap find at -thrift shop- but after years of work they became something that was priceless to Terrel. “And I don’t know ho to explain it. It’s just kind of like, they become like a part of you, you know? Because they’re so customized to you.”

story by: Emily Loewe

ARCH ANDDESTRO Y GNIHTOLCYM EROTS

Goodwill bins

1. 2.

The Goodwill Bins are located on 6505 Burleson Rd, Austin, TX 78744 and is a great place to find cheap clothing and household items. At the Goodwill Bins, instead of paying for individual items they have you weigh your items, then you pay by the pound. This is a really good place to buy items to thrift flip because of their affordable system. The Goodwill Bins can get very busy from time-to-time so its good to plan for that before going to the bins.

AUstin pets alive

Austin Pets Alive is located on 1409 W Oltorf St., Austin, TX 78704 and is another affordable place to thrift in Austin. Unlike many stores they price their items by category rather then individually pricing each item. Austin Pets Alive also has a pricier section, called the “boutique” but you will probable find the best items for thrift flipping in the main section of the store.

3.

thrift town

Thrift town is located on 5700 Menchaca Rd. #240, Austin, TX 78745 and is never short of clothing for any styles. Although you can’t buy clothing by the pound, it is still very affordable and has great selection for all of your thrifting and thrift flipping needs.

Photos by: Emily Loewe

art by: Emily Loewe

HOW TO... Thrift flip

First second third fourth

First, you’re going to want to gather all the items you need to do a thrift flip. For this one, you will need an item of clothing, a t-shirt or a patch, scissors, floss or thread, and a needle. Go to your favorite thrift store, when you get the pick out an item that you think its cool or has the potential for you to make it cool. After you get your clothing item you will need to find a patch or make one.

To make a patch all you will need is an old t-shirt an some scissors. From here all you have to do is pick an area on the t-shirt and cut it out to your desired shape and size for the patch.

After you get your patch you are ready to start the thrift flip. For this you don’t need any sewing skills, all you need to do is put the floss through the needle.(Terrel stated in their years of working on different pieces, floss held up longer and was stronger than normal thread).

To sew the patch on, you will start from the inside of the shirt or clothing in order to prevent your knot from showing, then from hear you will thread the floss through the patch and clothing and in an outward motion away from the patch. You will continue this, leaving a small space between each stitch until you have gone all the way around the patch. You can two simple knots on the inside of the item of clothing and then you patch is finished. Repeat this method for as many patches as you want.

art by: Emily Loewe

Gilbert makes different types of jewelery including necklaces, wire rings, earrings, and polymer clay charms. She likes wearing the jewelery after and getting to know she made it herself.

“I paint and I do more traditional art, like painting,” Gilbert said. “I make jewelery with polymer clay. I’ve just used what I’ve learned in terms of painting to make the polymer things when making jewelery.”

Elizabeth Gilbert

Graves has a process that is different for dangly and studded earrings. This makes the studded earrings less of a process than the dangly due to the amount of wire that they have to work with. “I do a lot of different types of art drawing, painting, sewing embroidery, sculpting and a lot of other stuff,” Graves said. “Pretty much anything, jewelery was just like another thing I could do it doesn’t carry over as much as other arts like drawing and paintings do.”

Maya Graves

Abramovitch got into small jewelery at a young age which included stringing beads together and fixing old pieces of hers. “I used to fix up necklaces and stuff, but they weren’t anything elaborate it was really simple,” Abramovitch said. “I am absolutely horrible at art. I am probably the worst artist you’ve ever seen in your entire life, my skills are stick men which hasn’t helped me with jewelery making.”

Daria AbraMovitch

Jewelry makingExplained by Bowie Students

Clothing

Step-By-Step Jewelry Making

1. Choose beads and pattern

2. Find the right size wire for the earring

3.Get the right length string

4. Bring the wire, string and beads to gether in a pattern

5. Tie the wire and string together

How TO Songwriting

DEBRIEF

When it comes to songwriting like many other art forms there isn’t an exact “how to” method and results vary from artist to artist, however there are a few methods that stick out for their ability to work across many different types of artist.

OSMOSIS

A type of song writing that is perhaps the most known and attributed is the osmosis method. This involves a person absorbing works of literature and art from other artists and using it in their art. Or being so profoundly inspired by a piece of art that it inspires your own creation. It is said that the more profound literature a person absorbs the more profound literature they will create. All and all the osmosis method alludes to being inspired by other works of art or literature.

PERSONAL

Conceivably the most raw form of songwriting are songs written from a person’s own experience in life. Differing from other methods such as storytelling or conversational for its deep humanism and relatability, something that has become all the more important to consumers in this day and age. This way of songwriting is popular for the community it creates by being able to relate.

CONVERSATION INFLUENCES

Popular in genres such as rap or on the opposite end of the spectrum, conversational style of songwriting has always been popular. It’s something akin to a one-sided conversation, a story told by the writer and sung to a beat.

Art and pain have always gone hand and hand especially in the music industry. Almost everyone belonging to the coveted “27 club” knew this. Their music not dissimilar to their lives the ultimate example is Kurt Cobain, someones whose art was influenced by pain and pain worsened by drugs. And song writing responsible for the grunge music movement of the 90s.

Story By: Savannah Linscomb

Student song writing

Many students at Bowie find inspiration for song writing daily. Junior Austin Winne finds inspiration in music itself. “My biggest inspiration for writing music is the joy that listening to music provides me.” Winne finds inspiration late at night when he believes his songs could reflect every emotion that he is feeling without being heard by those around him. Not all song writers write in books some songs start off as scribbles on paper with music and deeper meaning added later. “I don’t feel the need to have things written down unless I’m sharing it.”

Winne is also in a band which intends to begin writing songs of their own. “I am looking forward to it but its a different feeling than writing alone,” Winne said. Songwriting is a way for people to express themselves and feel more free with their emotions and songwriters at Bowie take full advantage of that.

All Art by: Savannah Linscomb

Story By: Savannah Linscomb

Poetry

Who is your favorite poet?

“

Right now one of my favorite poetry books is by this author on TikTok who has really influenced me. His name is Nico Demers and I read his book Belly religiously.

Gracie Thompson, senior

“

I got into a poet a few years back named Tommy Pico. He’s a queer, indigenous poet and his collection Nature

Poem is a favorite . ”

Bree rolfe, poet and former bowie teacher

“

I have always like Pablo Neruda. He is a poet from Chile in South America. I had a couple of his poems read at my wedding from 100 Love Sonnets.

Tara

Walker-Leon, School Librarian

Reporting By: Ashe Hagan

What inspires you to create?

Everyone is inspired by something. Whether it is a person, a place, or a favorite activity we all get joy and inspiration out of something in our lives. It is what drives us and what fuels us with creativity. Poetry is one way some people choose to express themselves.

Bree Rolfe is a published poet as well as a former Bowie English teacher. Rolfe now works with Austin Independent School District to improve conditions for homeless children in Austin, but that doesn’t mean she’s done creating. Rolfe published her first poetry book in 2021 entitled Who Could Love the Dying Girl in which she expresses how she felt uncomfortable in her own skin.

“I am motivated by the need to express myself in a way that is honest and authentic,” Rolfe said. “Poetry has always been there for me since I was in middle school. I think it helps me process the trauma in my life and the world in a way that is healthy and feels organic to me. I write a lot about discomfort and I think that exploring why we feel unsettled or uncomfortable is an important part of processing feelings. I also am inspired a lot by the things I am passionate about like music or pop culture or my relationships whether they be family or romantic. I like looking into human interaction. I think it’s fascinating.”

Bowie not only requires you take an English class every year but also has extra English electives that students can take. One of these classes is creative writing, the class that Rolfe used to teach and the class that senior Gracie Thompson takes.

“Poetry is kind of a spiritual thing for me,” Thompson said. “I believe all living things have a purpose to create

something. I see my creative process as a way of tapping into my divinity, and appreciating the beauty of creation that surrounds me. I started writing poetry over the pandemic when I was dealing with a lot of emotional hardship, and it really helped me ground myself into focusing on one idea at a time. Another reason why I write is because I have dyslexia and ADHD. I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my reading and writing skills after I began writing poetry. It forces me to be patient and concentrate on the words in front of me. It’s almost like meditation in a way.”

Chances are that even if it wasn’t by choice and even if you’re not a poet, you’ve still written poetry at some point in your life. For most, they’ve written it at school. Some take creative writing classes if they’re interested in writing, but still you may find yourself writing poetry for a variety of different English classes.

“I cannot even begin to express the value poetry has in our schools,” Rolfe said. “Poetry is short and complex and it is an excellent way for teachers to teach students close reading skills with a short text. Poetry is perfect for our short attention span society without sacrificing any rigor. It’s complicated and intricate so it allows students to really dig into the layers of meaning without them having to read a huge short story where it takes most of class to just get through it.”

If you are interested in poetry there are occasional poetry readings in the library as well as an extensive poetry section in the library.

In Another World

By Gracie Thompson

In another world, I never loved you.

I loathed your eyes because they burned, and cursed your scent because it drowned me. In another world, your teeth were like razors, or maybe they were rotten and infected me as they sank into my skin.

In another world, you ate me. And in that hypothetical world, I didn’t like it. I saw you as a monster, I feared you because I believe in this world, you’d never have my best interest at heart.

In another world, you were painful. Your flesh rough with warts and calluses, because I was never there to labor for you. In another world, I let the elements get to you, and I laughed as you suffered.

In another world, it wouldn’t be so difficult to write this poem for you, and come up with things to hate about you. In another world, life is simple because I’d never suffer withdrawal from your touch.

Or maybe I would. Because I am me, and you are you. But maybe I’d hate you for it, instead of being so foolish by letting you do it again and again

A Dream of Days Past

by Asher Hagan

I dream of dreams that I always see

I dream of things that will never be

In my dreams I dance and sing

In my dreams everyone loves me

I dream of days when life was free

I dream of things that will never be

Laying on a bed filled with feathers and not griev-ances

In a house full of good thoughts and not empty ghosts

I dream of joyous memory

I dream of life when it was easy

I dream of dreams I always see

I dream of things that will never be

Librarian Tara Walker-Leon listens to senior Gracie Thompson read their poem in the library.

Photo By: Ashe Hagan

A student reads their poem at the Pride week poetry reading in the library.

Photo By: Ashe Hagan

English teacher Jacob Morgan reads a poem out loud in the library. Photo

By: Ashe Hagan

Story By: Asher Hagan

COMICS

“Comics are a way that I escape, it makes me feel closer to my grandfather who loved comics.”

- SOPHOMORE

Annelise Lawrence

Art By: Noah Ellinger

MANGA MUST READS

ONE PIECE NARUTO BERSERK

FULL METAL ALCHEMIST

ATTACK ON TITAN

DEATH NOTE

MY HERO ACADEMIA

DEMON SLAYER

TOKYO GHOUL

HUNTER X HUNTER

JUJITSU KAISAN

ONE PUNCH MAN

The Manga industry has had an explosive growth in the past decade, with an estimate 17% increase in sales and production from 2020 to 2030 according to the Japanese Market CAGR

Art By: Noah Bihan

Growth of Manga

Dear Diary...

Why Journaling is good FOr Your Brain

Journaling can help you reflect on your thoughts and feelings, which can lead to better selfawareness and understanding of not only others, but yourself as well. It can help you reduce stress and anxiety by allowing you to express and process difficult emotions. Addition-identify emotional patterns and triggers in your life, allowing you to recognize and handle them better, helps you become more conscious of your day-to-day life and catalogs memories for future you to look back on, and is a great outlet for personal thoughts and feelings. More importantly, just jeeping a gratitude journal of some sort can help you focus on the more positive aspects of your life and cultivate a more optimistic outlook. By regularly writing down things you are grateful for, you can train your brain to notice and appreciate the good things around you. This can lead to improved mood, increased resilience, and better relationships with others. Additionally, focusing on gratitude and releasing harsh emotions can help you shift your perspective and find meaning and purpose in your life.

Story By: Amara Lopez

Lee Terrell jots down some doodles and thoughts in their personal journal.

Photo By: Alli Ekrot

All Art by: Alli Ekrot

Journaling helps me dig deeper into my emotions by helping me elaborate and really think about them. It also lets me realize what I’m actually feeling when I read what I wrote at a different time, when I’m feeling different. I write down what upsets me and small doodles.

For me journaling is really therapeutic. I do pages where it’s like diary entries and then some collage pages or even just doodles depending on how I feel. I’ve been doing it for four or five years now and it’s really nice to see how much my art has changed as I’ve grown up.

Journaling definitely helps regulate my emotions, I feel like I can get it all out when I write it down. It’s very free of judgment and bias when it’s just for myself in a private space. It makes big things feel a lot more digestible. I like to fill my journal with doodles as well as writing.

Journaling Prompts To try

What are some things that happened today (no matter how big or small) that you are grateful for?

Think about where or who you want to be in the next ten years and what this looks like. Then, create a plan of how to achieve this, and what goals and boundaries you need to hold in order to become this better version of yourself.

No matter how overwhelming things can be, it’s important to not forget about the small things. Write about all that is going right in your life, and all of the small things you have and get to experience that you often overlook.

What are some things that you did today that were positive for your own growth?

Where there any negative thoughts you had today that were not a true reflection of you, and what ultimately triggered these feelings?

What can I learn from my experiences today to make my tomorrow better?

dara Nunez, 12 Hannah Schiller, 12 Lee terrell, 11

Drawing with

Charis Hill

ArtBy:GraceHarris

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toEnteringhighschoolmeantaccess suchmoreprestigiouscompetitions (VisualashighschoollevelVASE. ArtsScholasticEvent) three“ThisyearatVASEIwasoneof peoplewhomadeittoVASE bigstate,whichismyfirsttimeanda said.accomplishmentforme,”Hill named“OneofthepiecesItookwas identity.“face”whichisaboutselfstory by: MadisonColeman

Crafts

Art By: Grace Harris

photo By: MadisonColeman

How to Draw

A Bulldog In just NINE steps

STEP 1: Start off by drawing the furrowed brows/lines.

THIS PICTURE REPRESENTS STEPS 1-3

1

STEP 2: Now add the eyes under the furrowed brows/lines.

STEP 3: Next add the beginning of the bulldog’s muzzle.

THIS PICTURE REPRESENTS STEPS 4-6

STEP 4: Add the nose along with line going down to mouth.

STEP 5: Now add the hanging lips, starting both of the sides from the outside of the muzzle and connecting them to the nose line.

THIS PICTURE REPRESENTS STEP 7

STEP 6: Finish off the the mouth by adding the bottom lip.

STEP 7: Now draw the rest of the head, leave space at the top for when you draw the ears.

STEP 8: Add both of the ears to the spaces you left open.

THIS PICTURE REPRESENTS STEPS 8-9

STEP 9: Lastly you can add wrinkles and whiskers spots to give the face more character.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

art By: Maddy Franco

Paint With

In painting comes great patience and skill. There are many different mediums, values, and details that artists have to pay attention to while creating their work of art. Water color, acrylics, and oil paints are just some of the mediums used in the painting world.

Painters fill the Bowie hallways, specifically sophomore Kate Bookidas. Bookidas is a painter herself, and has been since elementary school. Bookidas’ area of expertise lies with watercolor, though she is always trying new mediums.

“I’d consider myself the strongest at watercolor,” Bookidas said. “I find it easier to control the paint.”

Watercolor is a liquid-based paint which is activated when in contact with water. The pigment can be controlled with the amount of water in the brush and paint picked up from the dish.

“Watercolor can get you a range of values,” Bookidas said. “You can blend together or create harsh lines”. Being an artist means to be creative and think outside of the box. Having to be creative can take a lot of motivation. One of the ways to stay motivated is to have inspiration.

“I take inspiration from artists I’ll see on social media,” Bookidas said.“ I really admire artist that create really realistic art”

The art the Bookidas makes is painted to mirror realism. Many of her paintings consist of people, hands, flowers, bones, and more. An artist she follows is a realistic painter named Guy Billout.

“I really like his surrealist images, but also how they’re done in a modern way,” Bookidas said. “They’re just really fun

to look at.”

To get that realistic look in Bookidas’s art pieces she likes to pull inspiration from that she sees.

“I like to take a picture of my desired subject and pull inspiration from that,” Bookidas said. “From that image or picture I can pull apart the things I like and use them in my work.”

To start the painting process takes a bit of planning and sketching. Bookidas has many tips and tricks to make a great watercolor piece.

“In painting like watercolor it’s important to know the medium you’re using and how to use it,” Bookidas said. “In addition, it’s good to know what colors you will use, and where you will use them.”

Like any artist, it’s easy to get in a slump and become unmotivated to be creative. Bookidas likes to find her creativity in many things like movies, nature, and people. Sometimes you can find her sketching a person in real time.

“I don’t come by motivation often, so when I am motivated I take advantage of it.” Bookidas said.

Though there can be times where painting can be a struggle, Bookidas still enjoys it.

“I do enjoy painting, and especially what I can create with it,” Bookidas said.“ Painting lets me capture more color and life than other mediums, so it’s fun to create colorful and expressive images.”

Story by: Lucy Johnson

Blessing in Disguise: Bookidas’ most recent painting of a glowing head behind a trench coat. A blessing in disguise was the given prompt for this creative piece.

Garden creations: Bookidas’ most recent watercolor of an edelweiss and a red cloth with a dark blue background. This was created last summer with the inspiration from her garden.

Crafts

Watercolor: Bookidas free handed watercolor of her own hand holding a origami crane. This painting was created during her online year in 8th grade.

water coloring

1. Buy a variety of water colors and watercolor paper.

2. Get plastic pallets to mix and hold your pigments

3. Have a cup of water and a rag/paper towel on hand

4. Sketch out your idea

5. Paint!

a n d

C e r a m i c s

a t B O W I E

A half-glazed pot in hand, junior Mia Schwartz continues to apply liquid to her handmade, wheelthrown piece.

Schwartz has been sculpting since sophomore year.

“I’ve always wanted to mess around on the pottery wheel and throw since I was little,” Schwartz said. “I happened to have the time to sit down and commit to it this year and last year.”

A pottery wheel is just what it sounds like - a wheel that clay is spun on by pushing a pedal on the ground.

“I haven’t used much else besides the pottery wheel,” Schwartz said. “I mostly stick to what I know I’m good at, which is pottery thrown on the wheel.”

While most ceramicists prefer wheel throwing compared to hand building to precisely produce medium sized pieces, many additional details can be made by other means.

“I definitely prefer throwing on the wheel,” Schwartz said. “I would say 95 percent of my time is spent throwing and I only do hand building to add details to some of my wheel pieces.”

Schwartz used the two methods hand-in-hand to produce her favorite piece yet.

“I’m most proud of my realistic bowl of ramen,” Schwartz said. “I made the bowl on the wheel, but made the noodles separately, and made the water out of glass.”

Story by: Charlotte Koellner

photo by: Charlotte Koellner

art by: Grace Harris

to wheel throwing:

1

Step 1 is to wedge and center your clay in the middle of the throwing wheel. Clay should be slightly wet.

2

During Step 2, you will position both of your thumbs in the middle of the clay. You should also increase the wheel speed.

3

For step 3 you will slowly pull your hands up while on the clay, making the walls of

4

Now that the walls of your piece are satisfactory, step 4 is to take a metal wire and remove the pot from the wheel.

Crafts

a collage DIY

How to create

Story by: Bentlee Toland and Fiona Padalino

For any artwork a canvas is always needed. A canvas can really pull a masterpiece together. You will need a canvas to hold up your beautiful collage you have made.

1 2 3 4 26 DIYCrafts

Magazine cutouts or newspaper cutouts are a great way to spice up your collage. There are so many possibilities you can cut out something you inspire to be or do. You can also cut out quotes that stand out to you.

Photographs are the perfect element to add to your collage. You can cut out and glue photos that mean a lot to you or maybe pictures of some- thing you want to do or miss doing.

5

Ribbons are a tiny but a very cute part of a collage. You can choose any color or design of ribbon you like. One idea for how to use ribbon is gluing it down and putting it around the

Glitter is something that can make or break your masterpiece. You can choose what color whether is shiny or sparkly and pick out the perfect place to sprinkle your gorgeous glitter.

7

Scissors are one of the most important parts to making your collage. Scissors can be used in many ways but for you the main part is cutting things to crop them out to put on your collage like a photo out of a newspaper.

6

8

Markers are something you have so much power over in designing your collage. You can color items or writ down quotes as well as drawing whatever your heart desires to beautify your masterpiece!

Healthy Breakfast

Is it Important?

Breakfast is especially important for students as it helps to improve cognitive function and academic performance. Studies have shown that students who eat a healthy breakfast perform better on tests, have better memory recall, and demonstrate improved attention and focus in the classroom. Additionally, students who eat breakfast are less likely to experience mood swings, irritability, or behavioral issues in the classroom.

Eating breakfast can also help to regulate hunger and prevent overeating later in the day. Students who skip breakfast are more likely to feel hungry and snack on unhealthy foods throughout the day, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems. By providing students with a healthy breakfast, schools can help to promote overall health and wellness, improve academic performance, and set students up for success both inside and outside of the classroom.

However, many people lead busy lives and often don’ t have time to prepare a quality meal for themselves in between the blaring of alarms and mad dash to get out the door. For these people, it can be hard to carve out even a few minutes to microwave a bowl of oatmeal. That is why one simple solution to this existential crisis can make all the difference.

Art by: Carey Wooley

The easy fix is known as meal prep. This serves as a way for busy people to prepare their meals in large batches ahead of time so that when life gets crazy, they have a ready made and well-rounded meal all ready to go! Therefore, a good start to changing this bad habit could be carving out time over the weekend to make a big batch of overnight oats, or nutrient-packed muffins that can provide some sort of sustenance to get through the first half of the day. Story by: Vivi

Lopez-Stern

SOPHOMORE

Reporting by: Vivi Lopez-Stern

S T U D E N T

O p i n i o n

“Absolutely not. I do not have time because I wake up and I want to get as much sleep as I can,” sophomore Kelly Craft said. “But I have to take my dogs out in the morning, and get dressed, and pack my backpack, and probably, maybe, put some food in my backpack, and then I have to get out the door because I bike to school, so no.”

KELLY CRAFT

“When I skip breakfast I usually get hungry pretty early in the day and it affects how I work.”

JUNIOR ELIZABETH ALONZI

1 cup Flour

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/half teaspoon salt

1 cup of oatmilk

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

3 Tablespoons of vegan butter

5 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Zip lock bag to create swirl

Vegetable oil to grease pan

1 half cup of powdered sugar for the glaze

1 tablespoon water for the glaze

Cinnamon

Swirl Pancakes Vegan

1. Take out the butter and let it thaw to room temperature.

2. While you wait, start on the pancake mixture. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk.

3. One the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt are completely combined, add the milk and vanilla. Whisk the wet and dry ingredients until they are fully incorporated and there are no clumps of dry ingredients. Make sure you don’ t over mix, though!

4. Set the pancake mixture aside and start on the cinnamon swirl mixture.

5. In a small bowl place butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

6. Cream the mixture with a hand held or stand mixture, a spoon works too!

7. Once the mixture is smooth enough to squeeze through a zip loc stop mixing.

8 Start warming your pan on low to medium heat with a thin coat of oil to prevent sticking.

9. Put the cinnamon mixture in a zip loc bag and cut a small hole in one of the corners to pipe the mixture.

10. Once the pan is warm (you can test with a small drop of batter, if the oil sizzles it is ready) place desired amount of batter on the pan.

11. Now take the zip loc bag, and pipe the cinnamon mixture in a swirl starting at the outside of the pancake and moving into the enter.

12. The pancake is ready to be flipped when many bubble form and begin to pop on the pancakes surface.

13. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides.

14. Repeat steps 10-13 until you run out of batter.

15. Make the glaze while the pancakes cool.

16. Add the powdered sugar and water to a small bowl, and mix with a spoon. You may add either water or powdered sugar at any point to reach desired consistency.

17. Pour the glaze over your pancakes and enjoy!

(Makes 4-8 pancakes depending on size)

Recipe by: tasty.co

Art by: Amara Lopez

Sophomore Vivi Lopez Stern makes delicious cinnamon swirl pancakes for her family at home. Photo by: Vivi Lopez-Stern

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar : is a bean salad consisting of black-eyed peas lightly pickled in a vinaigrette-style dressing, often eaten as a dip accompaniment to tortilla chips. It was created in the 1940s by Helen Corbitt, who was a culinary director at Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas. It is a meal that many Texans cook and has been featured at the Texas State Fair. Sometimes called Texas Caviar, Cowboy Caviar has been made for the past many years. In 2020 Cowboy Caviar became a huge trend on TikTok. It is a super easy dish to make and can be eaten with a fork or used as a dip for tortilla chips.

How To Make Cowboy Caviar

For this recipe you will need to gather all of the ingredients that are to the right.

1. Prepare the ingredients: Take out two bowls, one small and one large and place to the side. Rinse and drain a can of black beans and a can of corn. Dice a large tomato, half a red onion, and a jalapeno pepper. Chop 1/4 of cilantro and one avocado. Set out some tortilla chips to use at the end.

2. Combine the ingredients in a large bowl: In the large bowl combine the black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, and cilantro. Place this bowl to the side.

3. Combine the ingredients in a small bowl: In the small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

4. Pour the dressing over the bean mixture and toss until everything is coated.

5. Serve the cowboy caviar chilled with tortilla chips.

1 Can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed

1 can corn, drained

half a red onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

a fourth cup chopped fresh cilantro

A fourth cup olive oil

A fourth cup red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon chili powder

a half teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

A large bowl and small bowl

Story by: Arden Ray

Red Bell Pepper

Jalapeño Pepper

Corn

Chili Pow-

Garlic Powder

Olive Oil

Honey

Cilantro

Red Onion

Black Eye Peas

Black Beans

ART by: Isabella del Nido

Penne al Vodka

Vodka pasta is a delicious Italian dish that combines the rich flavors of tomato sauce with the smooth taste of vodka. The vodka helps to break down the acidity of the tomatoes, creating a creamy, velvety texture that is both satisfying and indulgent. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or just for yourself, penne al vodka is a great way to add some variety to your usual pasta routine. The recipe below is vegetarian, however it can be altered to include sausage, pancetta, or shrimp. The type of pasta used is not crucial in order to correctly make the dish, however it is recommended to use penne pasta, farfalle, or shell pasta. To make the recipe a bit healthier or altered for dietary restrictions, the pasta can be substituted for a gluten free or whole wheat pasta, less salt and olive oil can be used, and the butter can be omitted for a vegan option. In addition, the alcohol in the vodka will burn off in the cooking process.

For this recipe, you will need pasta shells, olive oil, red onion, garlic, tomato paste, heavy cream, vodka, red pepper flakes, basil leaves, butter, and Parmesan cheese.

1. Cook the pasta: In a pot, boil water for about 10-15 minutes before placing in your pasta shells. Once they are softened, drain out ½ of the water and save the rest to incorporate later into the sauce.

2. Make the sauce: Put your saucepan on medium heat, and put ¼ cup olive oil and about ⅓ of a red onion into the pan and wait until they are soft. From there, add 1-3 cloves of garlic depending on your taste, and tomato paste until the mixture appears to be darkened and a bit caramelized.

3. Add heavy cream or half and half, and if you would like a bit of vodka. If you choose to add vodka to your sauce, make sure to leave it in the pan until it has evaporated. You may also add a few small leaves of basil to the sauce for a bit more flavor. Make sure to stir the sauce until all ingredients have been mixed in and the sauce has become creamy.

4. To finish off the sauce, add a pinch of salt, and a bit of red pepper flakes if you prefer a bit of spice in your pasta sauce. Make sure to put in about a tablespoon of butter before putting the pasta into the sauce.

5. Finally, combine your pasta and vodka sauce together, and include the pasta water saved from earlier. Add in a bit of Parmesan cheese while the mixture is still a bit hot so it is sure to melt. Make sure everything is fully mixed and that the pasta is fully covered in the sauce. Have fun with the plating and maybe even sprinkle a bit more Parmesan cheese onto the pasta when it is served.

Story By: Amara Lopez

butter

Penne pasta

basil

heavy cream

Tomato Paste

olive oil

tomato

tomato

garlic

red onion

Art by: Amara Lopez

How to make Cupcakes

Cupcake: A small cake that is designed to serve one person; it is baked in a small cup-shaped container and is frosted and decorated to look like a mini cake. Cupcakes were first invented in 1796 by Amelia Simmons, which she described as “a light cake to bake in small cups.” Cupcakes allow people to express their personality in a fun and creative way because you can decorate each cupcake differently. You can experiment with different flavors, colors, and toppings to make them uniquely yours.

Cupcakes are a delicious and fun dessert that come in a variety of flavors and designs. Whether you prefer classic chocolate or vanilla, or more unique flavors like lavender or matcha, there’s a cupcake for everyone. Plus, they’re the perfect size for a sweet treat without going overboard.

Cupcakes are also a great dessert option for parties or events, as they’re easy to serve and can be decorated in endless ways. From sprinkles and frosting to themed toppers, cupcakes can be customized to fit any occasion. From a little kids birthday party to a wedding, cupcakes are perfect for everything.

Decoration for Cupcakes

One of the best parts of making cupcakes is when it is time to decorate them, this is the part that can make or break your cupcakes. It is also a chance to express yourself and the design of your cupcake and make them fit for any occasion. To decorate cupcakes you can use frosting to create swirls, shapes, or other designs. You can also add sprinkles, candy, or fruit on top for extra decoration.

How To Make Cupcakes

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and take out all of the ingredients you will need. Three eggs, one cup of water, and half a cup of vegetable oil are all of the ingredients needed.

2. Slowly mix in all of the ingredients into the mix until there are no chunks.

3. Line your cupcake tin with cupcake liners.

4. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners, fill each one about 2/3 of the way.

5. Bake the cupcakes until they bounce back up when you press lightly on it.

6. Once they’re done, let them cool before frosting them.

Icing for cupcakes

To make cream cheese frosting, you will need cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Before you make your frosting you will need to let the cream cheese and butter sit out for around 30 minutes to an hour, they should feel room temperature and a little mushy. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth, then gradually add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until well combined. After you finish making the frosting, put it into the refrigerator to chill until you are ready to frost the cupcakes. When you are ready to frost the cupcakes, you can move the frosting into a piping bag and add the icing onto the cupcakes.

Story by: Lauren Wright